The stela of Iku and Mer-imat is an Egyptian piece of art from around 2100 B.C.E, approximately the beginning of the Middle Kingdom. It is more than likely from Naga-ed-Deir, a village in Upper Egypt on the bank of the Nile river. There is no known artist. This piece is painted limestone and used a canon of proportion to dictate what the art looks like. The canon of proportions that the Egyptians employed was a rule to how artists must paint. They used a grid pattern, drawn where their piece would be, having 18 units from the bottom of the figures feet to the hairline, each unit being the size of the figures' fist. All Egyptian art followed this guideline until the end of the New Kingdom's 26th dynasty. This piece is no different. This stela shows a nobleman and woman, Iku and his wife Mer-imat, standing side by side. Iku is slightly taller than his wife, and is wearing an intricate beaded wig, a jeweled collar and bracelet. He is shirtless, and his skin tone is dark than that of his wife, a more red color, which suggests that he is out in the sun more, working. He is…show more content… The left panel shows the Nativity scene. In the middle of this panel, baby Jesus is laying on a white cloth surround by Mary, Joseph and other onlookers. In the top left of this panel there is what appears to be an angel tying a white ribbon onto the Romanesque barrel arch that sits behind the group of people. In the central panel, which is the largest, baby Jesus is sitting in Mary's lap receiving gifts from the three wise men. Behind them are more Romanesque barrel arches and a misty landscape. The right panel depicts the Presentation at the Temple. Mary is holding young Jesus and carrying him into the church with other people watching and following. The entire piece shows a lot of vivid blues, pinks and yellows surrounding Christ, and more toned down browns and grays in the
